The article by Ben Brogan provides little substance for believing that serious efforts will be made at deselection, however.

The strongest on-the-record quotation that could be found against Mr Mercer came from the leader of the Tory group on Newark and Sherwood council, Tony Roberts. Cllr Roberts told The Mail: "The bulk of people I have spoken to have concerns."

The strongest quote against Mr Bercow was still weaker. County councillor Bill Chappell said: "I would feel happier if John was feeding his expert knowledge into the Conservative machine."

More angry is the Conservative leadership. On Friday night Sir Malcolm Rifkind was authorised to attack Gordon Brown for making political appointments in order to score party political points.

Messrs Bercow and Mercer were criticised on last night's Westminster Hour programme by their fellow Conservative MP Nadine Dorries. Nadine Dorries said that opposition MPs were paid and elected to oppose the government and hold it to account. This did not mean that they had to be negative and confrontational, she said, but the two MPs were wrong to work for Gordon Brown.